To experience Christmas in Transcarpathia travellers gather from all over the world for good reason, for you will find such festive feasts, folk traditions, customs and carols nowhere else in Ukraine. the Uzhhorod Excursion Bureau is delighted to invite you, dear travellers, to make an unforgettable Christmas journey to the colourful hamlets and towns of the Carpathian mountains, to discover how the people of Transcarpathia glorify the birth of Christ.
It is worth noting that Transcarpathia - is a multi-ethnic region whose distinctive feature is the presence of several religious denominations. That is why Roman Catholics here celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar on the night of 25 December, while Greek Catholics and the Orthodox follow the Julian calendar on 7 January.
Preparing for the Christmas holidays. Christmas in Transcarpathia
The people of Transcarpathia prepare carefully for the Christmas holidays several days in advance - it is a far more important and radiant celebration than New Year , for the whole family gathers around one table at home. On Christmas Eve, 6 January, it is essential to feed the household animals or livestock to win their favour for the coming year, and the whole house is cleaned so that everything is spotless. When the first star appears in the sky - everyone gathers around the table in a friendly circle, says a prayer and sits down to supper.
Traditionally, on Christmas Eve the people of Transcarpathia cook mushroom soup, mushroom cabbage rolls and uzvar (a dried-fruit compote), make varenyky (dumplings) and pies, prepare a vinaigrette salad, dishes of beans, fish, mushrooms and sauerkraut, bake all manner of cakes and biscuits and, of course, prepare the festive kutia. That said, kutia - is a relatively new arrival in Transcarpathian cuisine , for just a few decades ago it was replaced by ordinary boiled wheat. On the table you will see all 12 Lenten dishes . Many people keep the fast from as early as November. On 7 January this fast ends, and the tables overflow with meat dishes - piknytsi (sausages), hurka and shovdar (cured ham).
Every district of Transcarpathia - has its own unique family culinary recipes. In some villages, for example, they make so-called bobalky from dough or bake korochun (a kind of bread). On Christmas Eve everyone present must be sure to taste the kutia and a little of every dish. Separately, empty plates, pieces of bread and glasses of wine are set out on the table or the windowsill until morning for departed relatives, thus showing them respect. Besides the dishes, the hosts place cloves of garlic and coins at the corners of the table - so that the house may have health and prosperity. In some villages of the region a sheaf of hay is brought into the house, and from wheat they make didukhs. From this evening on, all the people of Transcarpathia greet one another with the words «Christ is born!», and in reply hear «Let us glorify Him!».
Celebrating Christmas Day
After the festive meal the people of Transcarpathia, mainly Roman Catholics, go to the evening service. Those who celebrate Christmas in Transcarpathia on 7 January attend the festive service in the morning. On Christmas Eve Greek Catholics and the Orthodox either stay at home and wait for the carol singers, or go carolling themselves to their relatives and loved ones. It is customary to reward the little carollers with money and sweets.
On the morning of 7 January, it is considered a good sign if a man is the first to enter the house - it means the family will enjoy happiness all year round. In the villages of Transcarpathia there is also a widespread tradition whereby the elders go from house to house carolling on behalf of the church. This day marks the start of the Transcarpathian cycle of Christmas festivities, which includes Malanka, or the Old New Year, and lasts until Epiphany.
The most striking feature of the Transcarpathian Christmas - the Transcarpathian vertep (nativity play) , or the so-called betlehem. The betlehem lads dress up as shepherds, angels, kings, devils, old men and old women and stage a play about the birth of Christ, singing carols. The script of the theatrical performance is prepared several weeks before the holiday. All the money earned is given to the church. Such a vivid, unforgettable, dazzling show on a biblical theme can be seen only at Christmas in Transcarpathia.
